It was a little less than a year ago that I wrote this article exploring the benefits of maintaining variety in tea drinking habits, in which I encouraged a more diverse approach to enjoying tea. At the time, I found myself alternating primarily between green tea and black tea. After drinking one style for a while, I would begin to crave the other.
Estate Tea Sampler – a great way to expand your tea variety. (Photo source: The English Tea Store)
Then, not so long ago, something changed. But before getting to that, it may help to describe how my approach to tea evolved over time. When I first began drinking tea, I had little awareness of what it really was beyond the boxed tea bags found in grocery stores. I didn’t fully understand the difference between herbal infusions like peppermint and traditional tea, nor did I realize how many distinct varieties existed.
As I continued writing about tea, those distinctions gradually became clearer. Exploring beyond the grocery aisle opened the door to a wide range of tea types—each with its own characteristics, much like different varieties of fine wine. With increased exposure came opportunities to sample many different teas, which helped broaden my understanding of the category.
Over time, certain preferences also became apparent. While I sampled white tea and pu-erh, neither became a regular favorite. I enjoyed some oolong teas, but not enough to seek them out consistently. Eventually, my habits narrowed primarily to green and black tea, with less common varieties like yellow tea remaining outside my usual rotation.
More recently, however, my routine shifted again. Without consciously deciding to do so, I began focusing almost entirely on black tea and have stuck with it for several months.
It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly why this shift occurred, though seasonal factors may play a role. Cooler weather often lends itself to richer, more robust teas. As the seasons change, it wouldn’t be surprising to return to a more varied selection—including green tea—once again.
See more of William I. Lengeman’s articles in this archive of tea-related writing by the author.
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